Railing



April 11, 1967 G. T. ERIKSSON RAILING 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1964 April 11, 1967 G. T. ERIKSSON RAILING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1964 qr v 1 TH E April 11, 1957 G. T. ERIKSSON 3,313,527

RAILING Filed Oct. 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,313,527 RAILING Gunnar Torsten Erihsson, Box 3, Storvreta, Sweden Filed Oct. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 404,372 6 (:lairns. (Cl. 256-65) The present invention relates in general to railings, and an object of the invention is to provide a railing construction which is easily mounted, in that the railing comprises a few different members which can be manufactured in a factory and then easily assembled on the building site.

More particularly, the invention contemplates provid ing a railing structure which is particularly adapted to be made from light metals, although other materials are of course possible, and which is so constructed that it can be built in practically any length and still take up longitudinal movement due to thermal expansion and contraction, the structure being such that longitudinal movement of the members of the railing is possible while at the same time the members are securely held together.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

According to this invention, the railing comprises posts adapted to be mounted to attachments on the building site, railing sections adapted to extend each between two posts and each comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal rail, and a top rail extending over a number of railing sections and posts. The upper and lower rails of the railing sections are attached to the posts by means of attachment members such that each railing section is longitudinally movable relatively to the posts. The top rail is formed so as to surround the upper rails of the railing sections and is attached to the upper end of each post by means of an attachment member which is secured to the post and engages the top rail to enable the same to be movable longitudinally relatively to the posts independently of the railing sections, the top rail having internal longitudinal flanges which rest on the upper ends of the posts and on exterior longitudinal ribs on the outer sides of the upper rails of the railing sections.

The invention will be explained more in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows in perspective view a railing embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a fragmentary longitudinal section of the railing of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show cross-sections along lines IIIIII and IV-IV in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGS. 3 and 2, respectively, but illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGURES l to 4, the railing comprises a number of posts 1 consisting of square tubes which are fitted over attachments 2 provided at the place where the railing is mounted. Adjacent the lower end of each post 1, there are provided holes for a bolt 3 (FIGURES 2 and 3), and adjacent the upper end of each post, there are provided recesses for receiving a flat bar 4 laid across the upper end of the post. The bolt 3 and fiat bar 4 serve as means for attaching railing sections, which consist each of a lower horizontal rail 5, an upper horizontal rail 6 and a number of vertical pales 7.

The upper rail 6 of each railing section consists of a rod of substantially square U-shaped cross-section, which at the edges of the legs of the U has inwardly directed beads 8. Also, it has longitudinally external ribs 9 at the outer faces of the legs of the U close to the web thereof. The lower rail 5 consists of an identical rod, but facing in an opposite direction, the lower rail 5 having its web portion facing upwardly and the upper rail 6 having its Web portion facing downwardly. The pales 7 are suitably ice tubes, in the embodiment shown tubes of rectangular cross-section, and the ends of the tubes are inserted into corresponding openings of the webs of the lower and upper rails and abut against the inwardly directed beads 8 of the rails. Suitably, the pales are further secured by partly expanding the ends thereof adjacent the webs of the rails, as indicated at 7a and 7b in FIGURE 2. It is also suitable to insert into the ends of the pales filling members 10, 11, which have a tight fit in the pales. As seen in FIGURE 4, the inner width of the pales 7 is slightly greater than the spacing between the beads 8, and corresponding recesses are provided in the beads to permit the members 10, 11 to be inserted into the ends of the pales. Furthermore, short tube lengths '12 are inserted into the ends of the lower rails 5 and riveted to the rails as seen at 13.

The railing sections above described are suitably assembled in advance in suitable lengths adapted to the intended distance between the posts 1, and transported as such to the building site. There, they are attached to the posts by sliding the lower rail 5 with the tube section 12 on to the bolts 3 and at the same time sliding the upper rail onto the bars 4. The dimensions are selected so that the lower face of the bar 4 engages the upwardly facing inner surface of the web of the upper rail 6 and the upper surface of the ribs 9 of the upper rail is at a level of the top end of the post 1. Also the length of the rails 5 and 6 will be slightly less than the distance between the two opposed faces of two posts 1, so that normally there is a small clearance between the ends of the rail and the post surface at least at one side of the post, as seen in FIG- URE 2. Thereby, and due to the manner of attaching the rails, each railing section can expand and contract longitudinally under temperature variations. If desired, however, each bar 4- can be secured to one of the two associated rails by rivets 14, without preventing longitudinal movement of the railing section.

The railing is completed by attaching a top rail 15 which extends over a number of railing sections and associated posts. If the railing contains but a few railing sections, the top rail can extend along the whole railing, but for longer railings, the top rail can be divided into a number of lengths, each of which, however, will normally extend over a number of railing sections. The top rail consists of a U-shaped rod of such a width that it sur rounds the top ends of the posts 1. The top rail 15 also has internal opposed flanges 16 which rest on the tops of the posts 1 and also engage the external ribs 9 of the upper rails 6, the spacing between the edges of the flanges 16 being substantially equal to the external width of the rail 6. To attach the top rail 15 to the posts, transverse locking members 17 are provided, which are inserted in the top rail 15 so that they rest on the internal flanges 16. These locking members 17 have depending attachment portions 18, which when the top rail is mounted, are inserted into the top ends of the posts so that they straddle the bars 4. Thereupon, the attachment portions 18 are joined to the posts 1 by rivets or screws (not shown), whereby the top rail 15 is attached to the posts and at the same time the upper rails 6 are locked. It will be seen, however, that although both the railing sections and the top rail are securely joined to the posts, and cannot be removed except by destroying the means joining the members 18 to the posts 1, the railing sections are still free to move longitudinally and the top rail 15 can also move longitudinally independently of the railing sections, since its flanges 16 can slide along the ribs 9.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment which is modified in some respects as compared to that illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4. The parts which are the same as in the first embodiment, are identified by the same numerals.

In this embodiment, the lower rails are attached by bolts 3 similar to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 4. Instead of the tubes 12, however, short pieces 20 are inserted in the lower rails 5 so that they are slidable along the rails. When the railing section is mounted, these pieces 20 are fitted over the ends of the bolt 3, the inner dimensions of the pieces 20 being such that they tightly grip the bolt 3. The depending flanges 21 afiord a means for forcing the pieces 26 into the desired position. This manner of attaching the lower rail has been found somewhat more convenient than that of the first embodiment.

Riveted to the ends of the top rails 6 are hooks 22, by means of which the rails 6 are attached to the posts 1. The top rail is attached by means of substantially V-shaped members 23, having end plates 24 which rest on the flanges 16 of the top rail 15. The central portion of the Vshaped member 23 projects downwardly into the top of the post 1. A bolt 25 extends through the post 1 between the legs of the V-shaped member and is riveted at 26 to secure the member to the post.

It will be seen that the embodiment of FIGURES 5 and 6 has the same advantages as that of FIGURE-S 1 to 4 as regards the possibility of thermal expansion and contraction of the railing section and top rail. It is, however, in some respects simpler than that of FIGURES 1 to 4, and is therefore at presently preferred.

FIG. 5 also illustrates another detail which may be suitable in some cases. In FIGURE 5 a bolt 28 is inserted between the opposite lower sides of the top rail 15 resting on the short lower edge beads 27 thereof. The diameter of the bolt 28 is such that the lower side of the rail 6 engages the to of the bolt 28. Such bolts 28 may be inserted at suitable places between the posts 1 and serve to prevent the railing sections from bulging downwardly if a vertical load is applied at a point between two posts 1. The bolts 28 are easily inserted by slightly separating the two sides of the rail 6 and then letting them return by their resilience after the bolt is inserted.

As stated above, the railing is suitably delivered to the building site in sections, comprising a number of posts, a corresponding number of railing sections and one or more top rail lengths, to be assembled on the building site. It is, of course, also possible to assemble the entire railing in a factory and deliver it as such in one or more units to the place where it is to be mounted.

I claim:

1. A railing comprising a number of posts, a number of railing sections each extending between two adjacent posts and including upper and lower hollow rails, rod-shaped attachment members connected to the posts adjacent the lower ends thereof, the lower rail of each railing section having ends slidingly fitted over said rod-shaped attachment members with a slight clearance between at least one end of said rail and the adjacent post, means connecting the upper rail of each railing section to the upper end of the posts to allow the upper rail to move slightly relative to the posts, whereby each railing section can expand and contract longitudinally, a top rail extending over a number of posts and railing sections and being substantially of inverted U section with inwardly directed 5 flanges which rest on the posts, and a connecting member for attaching said top rail to each of the posts, said connecting member including a first portion extending downwardly into each post and secured thereto and a second portion which engages the inwardly directed flanges along the upper surfaces thereof to maintain them in engagement with the post while at the same time allowing the top rail to move longitudinally independent of the railing sections.

2. A railing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first portion of each connecting member comprises a transverse fiange portion resting on the inwardly directed flanges of the top rail, and the second portion comprises depending attachment portions inserted into the associated post for being secured thereto.

3. A railing as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means connecting the upper rail of each railing section to the upper end of the posts comprises a flat bar secured to the end of the upper rail of one railing section at each post and slidably received by the end of the upper rail of the 25 other railing section at such post, said connecting member straddling each bar at each post.

4. A railing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second portion of the connecting member is a V-shaped section inserted into the associated post for being secured thereto, said first portion comprising end plates on said V- shaped section at the upper ends of the legs thereof resting on the inwardly directed flanges of the top rail.

5. A railing as claimed in claim 4 comprising a bolt in each post secured thereto and extending between the legs of the V-shaped section.

6. A railing as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means connecting the upper rail of each railing section to the upper end of the posts comprises a hook portion secured to a respective end of the upper rail of each railing section and inserted into a respective post adjacent the associated V-shaped section for sliding movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. D. L.'TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RAILING COMPRISING A NUMBER OF POSTS, A NUMBER OF RAILING SECTIONS EACH EXTENDING BETWEEN TWO ADJACENT POSTS AND INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER HOLLOW RAILS, ROD-SHAPED ATTACHMENT MEMBERS CONNECTED TO THE POSTS ADJACENT THE LOWER ENDS THEREOF, THE LOWER RAIL OF EACH RAILING SECTION HAVING ENDS SLIDINGLY FITTED OVER SAID ROD-SHAPED ATTACHMENT MEMBERS WITH A SLIGHT CLEARANCE BETWEEN AT LEAST ONE END OF SAID RAIL AND THE ADJACENT POST, MEANS CONNECTING THE UPPER RAIL OF EACH RAILING SECTION TO THE UPPER END OF THE POSTS TO ALLOW THE UPPER RAIL TO MOVE SLIGHTLY RELATIVE TO THE POSTS, WHEREBY EACH RAILING SECTION CAN EXPAND AND CONTRACT LONGITUDINALLY, A TOP RAIL EXTENDING OVER A NUMBER OF POSTS AND RAILING SECTIONS AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY OF INVERTED U SECTION WITH INWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGES WHICH REST ON THE POSTS, AND A CONNECTING MEMBER FOR ATTACHING SAID TOP RAIL TO EACH OF THE POSTS, SAID CONNECTING MEMBER INCLUDING A FIRST PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO EACH POST AND SECURED THERETO AND A SECOND PORTION WHICH ENGAGES THE INWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGES ALONG THE UPPER SURFACES THEREOF TO MAINTAIN THEM IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE POST WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ALLOWING THE TOP RAIL TO MOVE LONGITUDINALLY INDEPENDENT OF THE RAILING SECTIONS. 